Ablación percutánea con microondas guiada por ecografía de tumores de mama: nuestra experiencia

Abstract

Ultrasound-guided microwave thermal ablation is a technique that is showing promising results in the treatment of early breast cancer. It is based on the use of high temperatures to achieve coagulative necrosis of the tumour and its advantages include less use of general anaesthesia, fewer complications, and shorter recovery time, with better aesthetic results.

It is currently proposed as palliative treatment for patients who cannot undergo surgery for unifocal lesions smaller than three centimetres without skin infiltration of the nipple-areola complex and/or pectoral musculature. Because this technique is growing in importance as an alternative in the treatment of breast cancer, we present our experience in our centre, from the criteria for patient selection by the Multidisciplinary Committee to advice that may be useful for other radiologists specialising in breast imaging to start with this procedure, and recommendations on the subsequent follow-up of patients. In our experience, which includes 16 patients selected by the Multidisciplinary Breast Unit Committee, the procedure was performed without complications and with a high degree of patient satisfaction. To date, findings compatible with tumour recurrence have only been found in one of the patients, at the check-up at six months after the intervention.